Fly-switch



(No Model.)

' P..W. WOOD.

FLY SWITCH.

No. 537,660. Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

Z XWA i NlT ED STATES PATENT Prion.

FLY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,660, dated April16, 1895. Application filed August 24,1894. Serial No. 521,231. (Nomodel.)

To rtZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK W. YVOOD, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at East Baldwin,in the county of Cumberland and Stateof Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fly-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved fly switch for killingflies and the objectsof the invention are, first, to provide a device which will permit thepassage of the air through and at the same time strike and kill theflies, and, second, to provide an improved handle adapted to readilyclamp the switch or striking portion.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is aplan view of the switch. Fig. 2 is a View at right anglesthereto; and Fig. 3 is a detail of the clamping portion of the handle.

The switch portion A consists of a piece of wire netting which may be ofthe shape shown in the drawings, or any other desired shape. It may bemore or less flexible as is desired or may be stiff and unyielding,though slightly flexible netting is preferred. The edges are reinforcedor bound to prevent wear, and the meshes are sufficiently close toprevent the flies passing through as the netting is waved or switchedthrough the air.

The handle preferably consists of a single piece of stiff wire havingthe elongated loop portion 13 adapted to be grasped by the hand. The endportions B of the wire are bent into elongated coils of the same sizeand adapted to bear againsteach other, being forced together by thespring of the handle. The ends I) of the wires are pointed and terminateat opposite sides of the handle, centrally of the coils, where they areeach bent inward toward the adjoining coil.

When the handle is to be applied to the netting it is only necessary toseparate the coils and slip the netting between them and when in properposition allow the coils to spring together when they will clamp thenetting, and the points I) penetrating the meshes will hold it securelyfrom sliding between the loops.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood, as the openwork of the netting and handle enables the switch to be swung veryquickly through the air without forming an air cushion of compressed airin front of the switch as is the case with imperforated switches. Suchan air cushion serves to push the flies before it and renders the actionof the switch of no avail as the flies are given ample time to escape.With my device however no cushion is formed as the air passes readilythrough the open work and the flies or other insects receive no warninguntil they are struck by the strands of the wire.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In combinationthe netted striking portion and the wire handle having clamping portionsunder spring tension for clamping the edge of the striking portion,substantially as described.

2. In combination the netted or open-workstriking portion, and thedetachable handle consisting of a single piece of Wire bent to form anelongated loop with the end portions of the wire coiled to form clampingfaces for clamping the striking portion, substantially as described.

3. In combination the netted or open-work striking portion, andthedetachable handle consisting of the single piece of wire ben'tinto anelongated loop and having its end portions coiled and bearing againsteach other to form clamping faces, the ends of the wire of each coilbeing pointed and bent inward toward the adjacent coil, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK W. WOOD.

Witnesses:

LINDLEY M. WEBB, GEORGE E. HIGHT.

